Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi branded ‘mass murderer’ following his death

As tributes continue pouring in over the death of Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) founder Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, questions linger over what his legacy actually is. Buthelezi died on Saturday morning, 9 September 2023, just two weeks after turning 95.

Several political parties expressed their condolences, but didn’t exactly touch on his dark history.

ALSO READ: ‘An outstanding leader’: Ramaphosa mourns Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi’s death

PRINCE MANGOSUTHU BUTHELEZI’S CONTENTIOUS LEGACY

One person who hasn’t held back on his criticism of the IFP founder is City Press editor Mondli Makhanya. In 2022, Makhanya penned an opinion piece titled “Hail the mass murderer”, in which he condemned the constant praising of the veteran politician, despite his history.

“It boggles the mind how a nation that claims to be appalled at South Africa’s high levels of violent crime can celebrate a mass murderer who contributed so much to the culture of violence that prevails today; how a people that is so fixated on the sins of the past can so casually overlook the sins of a man who was responsible for so much of the killing that happened in the name of apartheid,” Makhanya wrote.

ALSO READ: Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi to be laid to rest on Friday

He is alleged to have collaborated with the apartheid government to stoke violence in black townships in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) in the 1980s and 1990s.

In response to the scathing piece, the IFP staged a protest  outside the offices of City Press’s owner Media24, demanding that action be taken against Makhanya.

ALSO READ: BREAKING: Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi DIES

HOW DO POLITICAL PARTIES REMEMBER HIM?

In their tributes, some political parties do note that his legacy is a rather controversial one. The EFF wrote: “Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi was a statesman, a traditional prime minister to the Zulu nation, and his legacy will remain a debate in the South African political terrain for years to come.”

While ActionSA hailed him for his leadership, with leader Herman Mashaba saying: “Buthelezi was a giant who played an instrumental role in the fight for democracy during the Apartheid regime and served as Minister of Home Affairs from 1994 to 2004. He led the Zulu political kingdom with unimpeachable distinction, conscience, integrity and high emotional intelligence. We extend our deepest condolences to the Buthelezi Family, the amaZulu Nation, and members of the IFP who have all been bereft by his unfortunate passing”